by B N Miles
She bit her lip and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, right.” She leaned forward and kissed him, deep and slow, before letting him go.
He grinned and Cassie winked at him.
“Come on,” he said, still holding Jessalene’s hand. “I think we got what we came here for.”
“They’ll leave those Vampires alone?” Cassie asked.
Jared nodded. “At least that’s what my Uncle says. He’s the acting Head of the house, so his word is usually good.”
Jessalene smiled and looked relieved, but he could still see the tension all over her.
“Come on,” he said, voice low. He kissed her one more time before they got into the car.
23
It was just after midnight when Jared woke up. Cold sweat dripped down his back, and his soft gray sheets clung to his shirtless body. He reached out to the side and felt Jessalene’s leg, long and lean, resting against him. Cassie was sprawled on the other side of her, curled up and snoring softly.
He needed a bigger bed.
The light played on the far wall and for a second, he thought he heard car doors slam just outside. He closed his eyes and took a breath, forcing the dream away. Really, it was less of a dream, and more of a memory: his sister kneeling in front of a sewer grate, using magic to lift it up, then throwing a small stray cat they’d grabbed down the hole.
He rubbed his face and was halfway out of bed, intent on the bathroom, when he heard a knock downstairs.
His heart doubled its pace. A knock this late meant something bad. He grabbed a shirt, threw it on, put on some sweats, and thought about waking up the girls.
But decided against it. The knock came again and he was out in the hall, moving downstairs. He ran through a hundred scenarios and landed on angry Vampires. He reached for the priori, had it ready, but didn’t quite take in any power. The knock came one more time, urgent and fast, and he lingered at his front door.
If it was Nikita, he shouldn’t be in danger. She wasn’t dumb enough to hurt a Marshal, even if she wanted to. But if it was Arman, come to get him off the trail…
That would be a good fight.
Jared pulled open the door, eyes narrowed, his body tense and ready.
He froze in shock. The streetlight filtered down around straight black hair, wide blue eyes, a round face, and a Magi Mark so deep it looked like a black hole.
Lumi Medlar smiled at him. She stood halfway down the stoop. Her hair was disheveled, not the perfect tight bun he was used to. She wore a long skirt and a low-cut top that just showed off the top of her small but perky breasts.
“Hello, Jared,” she said.
“Lumi.” He released the power he was drawing toward him. Her Mark was still inky black and almost hard to look at, especially at night. She drew light to her, kept it and sunk it deep into her skin. Her smile got bigger.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“No, I wasn’t.” He frowned at her, leaning against the doorframe. “What are you doing here?”
Her smile dropped. “Can we talk inside?”
He hesitated for half a moment before stepping back and letting her in. She walked into his house and he shut the door behind her.
This was reckless, he realized. Lumi Medlar helped him before, but she was still a Medlar. They were his enemy right now. They were the ones buying up Jessalene’s land. Jared and the girls were on the Medlar trail, and they easily could send someone like Lumi here to take care of them if they chose to.
But for some strange reason, Jared trusted Lumi. She’d helped them with Ferric, and helped him again in the hospital. She’d offered him a favor, and was good for her word, even though it ended up getting her punished by her own family. Besides, if Lumi wanted to kill him, there wasn’t much he could do about it.
“It’s late, Lumi,” Jared said, then stopped as she turned to him. “Are you okay?”
The little smile came back again. “Thanks for asking,” she said. “Do you have any tea?”
He nodded and walked to the kitchen. She followed and lingered nearby as he put the water on to boil and set up two mugs and teabags.
“Okay,” he said, turning to her, arms crossed over his chest. “Tell me why you’re here.”
She bit her lip. It was such a simple gesture, so girlish and normal, but it set his desire on fire. Lumi was a beautiful girl, with big eyes and dark hair. She was petite, smaller than Cassie and Jessalene, but so intensely powerful. He knew that feeling this way for her was a mistake, but he couldn’t help it. Before, she’d come dressed for business, but tonight she was wearing civilian clothes and showing off a little skin. He couldn’t help but think that might mean something.
“I’m here because I’m not sure where else I can go,” she said.
Jared cocked his head. “Did something happen?”
She looked away. “Yes,” she said. “Something did happen.”
He was about to ask more but the water started boiling. He poured the two mugs and carried them out to the kitchen table. Lumi sat across from him and sipped the tea, even though it wasn’t finished steeping yet. She let out a breath.
“I heard you were punished,” Jared said, keeping his voice light. Magi families punished their own all the time, and it wasn’t so unusual. He’d been punished himself on more than one occasion.
“Yes,” she said. “I was.” She clenched her jaw. “And that’s why I’m here.”
He nodded. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now.” She sipped her tea again. “Have you ever been blocked?” She asked the question so casually that Jared almost didn’t understand it.
He took a sharp breath as the words sunk in. “No,” he said as he felt a tingle of disgust run up his spine.
“They blocked me,” she said, her voice low. “They blocked me as soon as I got back to the house, before I could take care of the Need.”
Jared stared in abject horror, his fingers clenched so tight around his hot mug that he didn’t feel the heat for a long moment, not until it began to burn.
Blocking was an uncommon form of magical punishment. It was dangerous and cruel, but he knew many families practiced it from time to time. It took at least two other Magi to make it work. They used their own priori to block the access of a third Magi, effectively cutting them off from the power. It was a temporary thing, as far as Jared knew, but could be renewed over and over again.
That was bad enough. Cutting a Magi off from the priori was like cutting off a person’s hands. It was cruel and awful, and Jared’s family didn’t practice it. But Lumi’s family had left her with the Need. Without any access to the priori, there would’ve been no way for her to damp down the magic still trapped in her own skin. Sex, drugs, none of it would’ve worked. She was cut off from the source and from the world outside her self.
“Fuck,” he whispered. “How long?”
“Since we last spoke.” She shrugged. “It’s been hard.”
“Are you still…?” He trailed off. He had no clue what to say. Getting stuck in the Need for so long was a cruel, sick punishment. He couldn’t imagine coming back from something like that.
“No,” she said. “The moment they released my block, I took care of it.”
“Good.” He frowned at her. “That’s sick, Lumi.”
“I know.”
“Is that something the Medlar family does often?”
“No,” she said. “But it happens. Leaving me with the Need, though, that was cruel and unnecessary. And done only because my cousin despises me.”
“Your cousin?” Jared narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a vague idea about the inner workings of each Magi family, but the nine head families kept their rankings to themselves as best they could.
“Yes,” she said. “He is one step from the Head in my family, and was tasked with teaching me a lesson for going against the family’s interests.”
“Lumi… blocking you like that, it’s sick.”
“I know.” Her jaw tensed. He could
see the anger all over her now. He mistook it for fear at first, but now it was obvious.
She was so angry she could barely hold it in. Normally impassive and calm, Lumi was nearly trembling with rage. It scared Jared, just a little bit. This girl could tear this block to pieces with her magic if she wanted to, and Jared couldn’t do much to stop her.
“Have you ever been blocked?” she asked again.
“No,” he said, and wondered if she’d heard him the first time. Maybe she was losing it, or maybe she was so emotional and angry that she couldn’t think straight. He hoped it was the latter, because the former had much worse implications. If a Magi like Lumi began to lose her mind at the height of her power…
Jared didn’t want to go down that road.
“It’s like being so thirsty you’d do anything to take a drink, but all the water in the world is separated from you by a thin layer of glass. Scream and claw and try as much as you can, but you’ll never get that water. It’s out of reach forever.” She shut her eyes and sipped the tea.
“And the Need?” he asked.
“Just as bad,” she said. “Worse, because I couldn’t silence it. I’d taken care of myself after the fight with Ferric, but had used magic again since then. Fortunately, it wasn’t too bad, and I could keep it from breaking me, but it was cruel to leave me in that state.”
“It was worse than cruel,” he said, his voice low. “What they did to you… I’m sorry, Lumi. It’s partially my fault.”
She met his gaze and shook her head. “It’s not. I made my choices. I knew putting a warrant out for Wen Bet would anger my family. I just didn’t realize how far they’d go.”
He nodded slowly. “I can see that. I’m sorry all the same. I never would have asked for that if I knew what they’d do to you.”
She waved his apology away. “I’m here to ask for something,” she said.
“Anything.”
A little smile slipped onto her lips again. “I wouldn’t say anything, if I were you.”
“What can I do to help you, Lumi?”
“I need a place to stay.”
He sat back in his chair and stared at her. “What?”
“A place to stay. Just for now, until I’ve gotten myself settled.”
“Wait, hold on.”
“I don’t need much. I’m self-sufficient. I have plenty of money, if that’s an issue. I just need a bed and—”
Jared opened his mouth to speak but a noise on the stairs stopped him. He looked over and saw Jessalene standing there, wearing shorts and one of his t-shirts. She rubbed her eyes then stared at Lumi. Anger slowly spread across her features.
Lumi didn’t move. Jessalene came closer, her body tensing with rage. Jared stood up and took a step toward her, but Jessalene acted first.
Her magic flared to life. A small houseplant sitting on a shelf near the window exploded outward, shattering the pot and crawling toward Lumi. The vines grew ten times as long, thick as a man’s arm, and slithered up, whipping out, trying to wrap around Lumi’s throat.
24
“Jessa!” Jared said, stepping toward her.
The vines slapped at Lumi and tightened around her body. Lumi didn’t move as the vines wrapped around her mouth and arms like rope, pulling hard and making her grunt in pain. Her head was tilted back, exposing her neck, and Jessalene showed her teeth, like she planned on tearing the Magi’s windpipe out with her mouth.
“Stop,” Jared said.
“What is that bitch doing here?” she hissed. “That Medlar bitch.”
“Stop,” Jared said again. “She’s a guest. And she’s not our enemy. You know that.”
“She’s still a Medlar.” He could see the anger in her eyes, the hurt. This had been a hard few days, and seeing Lumi must have pushed her beyond her limits.
“Jessa,” he said, trying to keep his voice level. “Let her go.”
“It’s okay,” Lumi said, her eyes on Jessalene. “I understand why she’s angry. I sympathize, I really do.”
“You sympathize? You Medlar bitch. You’re the reason we’re going through this.” Jessalene’s jaw tightened as the vines wrapped harder around Lumi’s body. Lumi let out a soft grunt and closed her eyes.
“I left my family,” she said. “For the time being, I’m no longer a Medlar.”
Jared turned to Lumi in shock. He stared, mouth hanging open. “You did what?”
“I’m not a Medlar anymore,” she repeated.
Jared couldn’t let that derail him. He turned back to Jessalene, stepping closer. “Jessa,” he said, his voice low. “Please. She’s not our enemy.”
Jessalene looked at him, and he could see how conflicted she was. He moved closer and touched her arm, his other hand moving up to caress her cheek. She looked away from him, frowning.
“She’s not the enemy,” he said again.
Jessalene let out a groan and he heard Lumi coughing. Jared pulled Jessalene against him and held her tight as she let out a single sob, hugging him hard in return. He held her like that as Lumi disentangled herself from the vines and returned to drinking her tea like nothing had happened at all.
Jared calmed Jessalene down enough to sit at the table. She kept glaring at Lumi, but at least she wasn’t trying to kill her anymore. Jared got her a mug of tea and the three of them sat facing each other again.
“Okay,” Jared said. “Okay, that was fun.”
Lumi smiled. “Not the worst thing that’s happened to me in the last day.”
He leaned toward her. “You said you… left the Medlar?”
“That’s right,” she said, nodding.
“What does that even mean?” Jessalene asked.
“Believe it or not, Magi aren’t slaves to their houses,” Lumi said. “It’s rare, but a Magi can leave their family if they so choose. Jared is a good example of that.”
He shook his head. “But most never do. And why would you? I understand that blocking you was—”
“Just one in a long, long line of injustices and embarrassments,” she said, her eyes suddenly hard. “Just one straw among many.”
Jared nodded slowly. “I can understand that.”
“I believe we left our houses for different reasons, Jared Bechtel,” she said. “But I’ll admit, I don’t think I ever would’ve considered it if I hadn’t met you.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because you’re happy.” She frowned and looked at Jessalene. “He found you and Cassie. He seems… he seems like he has a good life. I didn’t think that was possible for a Magi.”
Jared looked at her for a long moment. Jessalene frowned and sipped her tea but didn’t speak.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked. “The Medlar aren’t like the Bechtels. I don’t know if they’ll let you leave. I don’t know what they’ll try and do to you.”
“Don’t worry about that,” she said, smiling. “You don’t have to protect me. Don’t forget who the stronger Magi is here.”
Jared grinned back. “True. But you’re on your own now.”
“I am. That’s why I’m here.”
He looked at Jessalene. “She wants to stay here for a little while,” he said. “Just while she gets back on her feet.”
Jessalene didn’t react. She stared at Lumi for a long moment. “I see,” she said.
“I can’t let her stay if you’re against it,” Jared said softly. “I need to make sure both you and Cassie are on board first. We can talk about it later, if you want.”
She shook her head. “You really left them?”
Lumi nodded. “I wouldn’t have come here if I hadn’t.”
“And what does that mean for you?”
Lumi hesitated. She frowned then looked at Jared for a long moment before turning back to Jessalene. “It means I’ve given up everything I’ve ever known,” she said. “For the chance at something better.”
Jessa leaned back in her chair and sighed. She rubbed at her temple and closed her eyes. “I’m not sorry I
tried to kill you,” she said.
“I know.”
“I’m also very aware that you could’ve vaporized me if you wanted to.”
“You’re right.” Lumi smiled at that.
“So I’ll say you can stay here. For a little bit. Only until you get settled.” Her eyes narrowed and her body tensed. “But after that, you’re leaving.”
Lumi leaned toward her slightly. “Thank you, Jessalene.”
“Yeah.” Jessa frowned at her then looked away.
“Well,” Jared said, standing. “I have to admit, it’s been a really long day. Want me to get you settled, Lumi? I’ll talk to Cassie about everything in the morning, but I have a feeling she’ll be happy to have you here.”
“That would be nice,” she said. “I don’t mean to impose too much on you. It’s just…”
“I know,” he said. He went around, gathering up the mugs. He put them in the sink and when he came back over, the two girls were sitting there, looking at each other.
“— hate them,” Lumi said, her voice low. “It’s just that I know I can never be more with them.”
“I think I understand that,” Jessalene said. “Back in my clan, I’ll always be an outsider, not born into it.”
“I didn’t think a thing like that mattered to Dryads.”
“They pretend like it doesn’t, but distinctions always matter. It set me apart, made me different. I always felt it growing up, and I know it’ll get worse the older I get.” Jessalene sighed. “That’s why my mother isn’t on the council, or at least that’s what I think. She’d be an asset to them, but they refuse to consider her.”
“I see,” Lumi said. “And yet you’re still working hard to save your clan’s land.”
“I can’t help it,” Jessalene said. “Even if I never fit in, they still raised me. I still want to help them.”
“Help them against the injustices of my family.” Lumi didn’t smile.
“What do you know?” Jessalene asked, leaning toward her.
“I’m sorry,” Lumi said, shaking her head. “I know almost nothing about what’s going on with your family. I have some ideas, but… I was just a Fist for them. Nothing more.”
